Archivio della categoria: Eco/Bio

Cloe: jeans and blue butterflies

Pubblicato il da
Risposta

Spring time is a blessing: kids can play alone in the garden (extensively!) and I have time to dedicate to my passions!

Bentornata Primavera! Finalmente i bambini possono giocare in giardino da soli e per lungo tempo e io ho più tempo da dedicarmi alle mie passioni!

Spring can be also the perfect time for sewing as I appreciate brighter light and nature is so inspiring! La primavera è un momento perfetto per cucire. In particolare apprezzo molto la luce più intensa e la natura quale fonte di ispirazione.

When the flowers are in blossoms, observing insects and butterflies can be a good starting point for creative details with applications or embroaderies of natural themes on the fabric.
Con la fioritura completa delle piante,  l’osservazione degli insetti e delle farfalle può essere un buon punto di partenza per spunti creativi di ricamo o applicazioni sulla stoffa.

This is the first time I recycle an old pair of jeans and create a bag out of it. The lovely story about it and tutorial on TandemBags Blog! I wish you as much fun as I had!
Questa è la prima volta che reciclo un paio di pantaloni e ci faccio una borsa. Per i simpatici retroscena e il tutorial andate su TandemBags Blog Buon divertimento!

More pictures on Flickr Page.
Altre foto sulla Pagina Flickr.

How Cacti met Mugs

Pubblicato il da
2

Mugs and Cacti

I have been collecting mugs since ever and my tea addiction did not help to stop buying nice mugs in Italy or abroad in the last decades (…decades…oh my god!!). After a few years some of them broke, others just chipped but I refused to throw them away.
Colleziono tazze da tè da sempre e la mia passione per il buon tè non ha aiutato nel limitare l’acquisto di nuove tazze in Italia e all’estero negli ultimi decenni (…decenni…oh mamma mia!!). Dopo qualche anno alcune si sono rotte, altre solo scheggiate ma mi sono rifiutata di gettarle.

Cacti meet Mugs

In the beginning, I re-use them for fresh flowers, saltcellar, pensil tin. Then, the collection of (chipped/broken) mugs increased up to the point of forcing us to find a different function and location, thanks to our guests’ substantial help having breakfast or an afternoon tea in the garden of Ancora del Chianti. 
All’inizio le ho ri-utilizzate come vaso per fiori di campo, saliera, portapenne. Poi la nostra collezione di tazze (scheggiate o rotte) si è arricchita velocemente fino a essere costretti a trovare una diversa funzione e collocazione grazie al generoso contributo dei nostri ospiti durante la colazione o il tè del pomeriggio nel giardino dell’Ancora del Chianti.

And the idea arrived: combining mugs and cacti and place them in garden! Great effect!
E l’idea è arrivata: mettiamo insieme tazze e cactus e piazziamole in giardino! Di grande effetto!

More Pictures on our Flickr Page
Altre foto sulla nostra Pagina Flickr




 

Ready for Winter

Pubblicato il da
Risposta

Woodpile at Ancora del Chianti

Summer days has gone and winter is approching. Windy and rainy days are awating for us and we are ready to face cold weather with enthusiasm at Ancora del Chianti.

Filippo preparing the woodpile

The B&B is closing soon and life on the hill will be even more quiter, if ever possible… The wine and the oil is in the cellar and the whole family is busy with winter activities: kids are going to school and playing sports; Filippo is teaching in Florence and playing trumpet; me, I will start sewing and painting again and…the last member of the family, our fabolous Boderus Heater will start “eating” logs again…..!!

Filippo and Spartaco moving logs

A few years ago, we changed our heating system into a hot water heater with wood fire. Wood comes mainly from our olive grove and the little forest next to our vineyard. We are also grateful to the substantial help of friends getting rid of their garden pruning.

We collect, chop and prepare woodpiles all year round but the most intensive moment is August-September as the wood logs are dry after hot summer days. We usually wait 1 or 2 years after the cut before we use them in the fire and we move the logs in this period in order to get the best exposition to sun and wind depending on the aging. Even just moving the logs is a big job!

Hopefully we are not alone and our kids are happy to help. They have mini-working gloves and they are very proud to wear them and show everybody…

We wishing you a warm winter to everyboby!!

More Pictures on our Flickr Page

Under the Tuscan Sun

Pubblicato il da
Risposta

Morning Sun on 18th October

On Wednesday 19th October, we celebrated one year of solar energy at Ancora del Chianti!!

Exactly today, one year ago, Giulio and Marcello, technician at the National Electricy Board, connected our solar plant to the national wiring plant and we are proud to announce that our panels have been producing 4176 KWh in an year: from 18th October 2010 to 18th October 2011.

What a job!

This result is mainly due to the long and sunny summer that blessed us with sunny days (…and no days of rain) from the end of May up to mid October.

This is not only an interesting result for the oil/carbon we saved for not producing electricity with traditional methods but also we could cut CO2 emission for 2,715 kilos, important cause of climate change.

Pictures on our Flickr Page

1st MegaWatt at Ancora del Chianti

Pubblicato il da
Risposta
In Mid October we had our our solar panel installed for electricity production and we started to produce clean energy in Chianti for our family and for the guests of our bed and breakfst.

People selling solar panels are (or must be) optimistic about the results as they have to promote their business of course, but we did not expect to be so true especially because we were facing winter!! They told us also about the benefits on the enviroment and …It all came true in a very short time!

Just Before 1000

The winter this year has been cold and rainy and we had very few days of sunshine. Despite that we had our first MEGAWATT in late March. Solar energy is free emission and producing 1 Mega with solar energy we saved oil for 250 Kg and reduced Carbon Dioxide for 500 Kg for enviroment benefit.

This is the picture just before 1000 watts and………………

Just After 1000

 

…….. here the picture just after 1000 watt of production!

Curious to know what’s in between? Easy to answer: a lovely Sunday picnic in the garden with kids for celebrating Springtime!!